First Meeting, a World That Had Changed Slightly

"I've met you before, Deputy Tower Master."

Watching the cold, beautiful woman walk in, Han Tianyi's eyes flashed with caution. He leaned forward slightly as he spoke.

The two who had entered were Leng Yaozhu and Na'er. Though Han Tianyi had never met Na'er, he knew Leng Yaozhu very well.

She was the Spirit Pagoda's undisputed second-in-command. The Phoenix Family she led ranked second among the Spirit Pagoda's factions, surpassed only by the Qiangu Family.

Leng Yaozhu herself was extraordinarily powerful. Not only was she a rare Four-Word Battle Armor Master, she had also broken through to Limit Douluo cultivation last year. She was the very picture of beauty and strength.

"Elder Han, you're here too."

Leng Yaozhu wore a red robe. Her red lips curved faintly as she glanced at Han Tianyi with a smile in her eyes, then turned her gaze to Mu Ye and Jiang Xiu. Her delicate brows rose slightly in surprise.

"Long time no see, His Excellency Body."

"Long time no see, His Excellency Heavenly Phoenix."

Mu Ye coughed lightly and nodded in reply.

Leng Yaozhu was around his age. Though both of them were Four-Word Battle Armor Masters now, there was too great a gap between their levels of cultivation.

"Deputy Tower Master, are you here to find a Soul Spirit for one of your juniors?"

Han Tianyi looked at Na'er beside Leng Yaozhu, puzzled. He and Leng Yaozhu usually worked at the Spirit Pagoda's headquarters, but he had never heard that she had a disciple or junior.

At that moment, however, Na'er's gaze rested on Jiang Xiu, her beautiful eyes carrying a hint of scrutiny.

"A Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon Martial Soul? But why does it carry such an unusual pressure..."

"Talented youths in the human world are as plentiful as carp crossing a river. But my Silver Dragon Spear is no less sharp!"

Jiang Xiu also studied the two lovely figures, one tall and one small. He had seen the red-robed Leng Yaozhu, still full of charm, in information from the outside world. But the first moment he saw the silver-haired girl, the Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon Martial Soul within him stirred restlessly.

"This is my newly accepted disciple, Na'er. Na'er, come and greet your elders."

Leng Yaozhu smiled, affectionately stroking Na'er's head with her slender hand.

She had investigated Na'er's background the night before. It was just as Na'er had said: she had no parents or family. Still, Na'er seemed to have appeared out of nowhere in Shrek City.

But Leng Yaozhu didn't probe any further. Instead, she had lured Na'er into becoming her disciple with a grand meal. After all, Na'er had a Martial Soul unlike anything she had ever seen in her life—even stronger than that person's.

It would have been unthinkable not to take her as a disciple.

"Hmm? Who? Na'er?!"

Hearing this, Jiang Xiu stared at the girl before him, his gaze jolting as thoughts surged through his mind.

"Has the Silver Dragon King taken human form ahead of time? But even if the Silver Dragon King split into Gu Yue and Na'er after taking human form, Na'er should have become Yun Ming's disciple, not Leng Yaozhu's."

Over the past few years, Jiang Xiu had tried every means he could to confirm the current point in time. After all, Soul Guidance communications had developed rapidly, and a great deal of public information was readily available.

"With Tang Wulin the same age as me, something seems to have gone wrong with the Silver Dragon King's transformation. Instead of losing her memories, she split directly into two. And the Na'er before me should be more inclined toward humanity."

Jiang Xiu quickly sorted out his thoughts. After all, if the Abyssal Tide could appear in Snow City, he could accept the Silver Dragon King taking human form ahead of time. He would just have to adjust his plans for the future.

"Hello, my name is Na'er."

By then, Na'er had already greeted Han Tianyi and Mu Ye. She stepped forward, her pale calves visible beneath her white dress, and held out a small hand to Jiang Xiu, speaking in a clear, sweet voice.

"Hello, my name is Jiang Xiu."

Jiang Xiu reached out and shook her hand, smiling as he spoke.

No matter how Na'er had entered the Spirit Pagoda, there was no way he could act too deliberately in front of all these powerful figures.

"Come along, Na'er. Let's pick out a suitable Soul Spirit for you. Elder Han, you should bring out that Dark Night Raven and let your junior absorb it."

Leng Yaozhu flicked her slender hand, and a light screen appeared before her. She gave Han Tianyi a pointed look. She had seen him hide the Dark Night Raven earlier.

"Hahaha, the Deputy Tower Master is absolutely right."

Hearing this, Han Tianyi confirmed that Leng Yaozhu hadn't come for the Dark Night Raven and let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Though he had already reserved the Dark Night Raven, Jiang Xiu hadn't fused with it yet, and it hadn't left the Spirit Small World. If Leng Yaozhu had taken a liking to it too, he truly wouldn't have known what to do.

"That's right, Martial Uncle. Hurry and bring it out so Xiao Xiu can try."

Mu Ye spoke with anticipation.

"This is working hours. Address me by my official title."

Han Tianyi glared at Mu Ye, then stopped hiding it. He clenched his weathered hand in midair, and silver-white ripples spread before him. The Dark Night Raven that had vanished earlier was imprisoned in a cage formed from mental power. It struggled incessantly, its fierce nature on full display.

"Xiao Xiu, once you've made up your mind, go for it. Your master and your grand-uncle are both here."

Mu Ye patted Jiang Xiu on the shoulder, his eyes full of encouragement.

"Okay!"

A hint of blood-red glimmered in Jiang Xiu's purple eyes as he strode resolutely toward the Dark Night Raven.

"Caw!"

Seeing someone approach, the Dark Night Raven struggled even harder. Dark Soul Power surged around its body, and its sharp talons and beak slammed repeatedly against the cage, but they couldn't damage it in the slightest.

Jiang Xiu raised his left hand. A towering shadow of darkness appeared behind him, a pair of blood-red eyes fixed on the Dark Night Raven before him.

"Now that you're ready, begin!"

Han Tianyi's voice fell, followed by an obscure incantation. A six-pointed star array enveloped Jiang Xiu and the Dark Night Raven. This was none other than the Spirit Transmission Ritual.

Ordinary Soul Beasts could form Soul Spirit Contracts directly with Soul Masters, since the Spirit Pagoda had already trained them to do so.

Unyielding Soul Spirits were different. They possessed an unbending will and would never form a contract with a human Soul Master of their own accord. The Spirit Transmission Ritual was therefore needed to create a platform for the contract.

But what mattered most was whether the Soul Master could withstand the Unyielding Soul Spirit's impact.

"Hum!"

A resonant hum sounded. The Dark Night Raven seemed to sense something; its blood-red eyes blazed with ferocity, and a layer of darkness covered its sharp beak and talons.

At that moment, the Mental Cage imprisoning it vanished. The six-pointed star array's mysterious golden runes surged into Jiang Xiu and the raven, drawing the raven toward him.

Outside the array, the four watched with different expressions, all keeping their eyes fixed on what was happening within. Mu Ye was especially ready to step in at any moment.

"Caw!"

The Dark Night Raven gave a piercing cry. It didn't resist the pull of the golden light, but charged straight at Jiang Xiu. Its sharp talons, powerful enough to pierce a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear, raked toward his head.

"Shadow Monarch, go!"

Jiang Xiu's expression remained calm. By now, his eyes had turned blood-red, radiating a soul-chilling coldness. At his low command, the Shadow Monarch behind him flashed forward, its enormous hand crashing down over the Dark Night Raven.